Need motivation? There's an app for that

Apr. 3, 2013

There are many applications centered around fitness for both iOS and Android.

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The No. 1 reason people give for dropping out of an exercise routine is lack of motivation. Here are a few mobile app websites and gadgets that will help you stay motivated.

Nike Training Club: Circuit training is a really good way to kick your butt into gear. A circuit is basically a variety of predetermined workouts that you can do independent of one another depending on which areas you want to work out.

That’s the idea behind the dozens of options in the Nike Training Club app. Videos explain just what mountain climbers, hip lifts or any of the other exercises are, so there’s less of a chance of you completely screwing up your form. And even if you’re new to circuit training, you don’t need to be intimidated.

JEFIT: If you’re trying to beef up (or build lean muscle), it’s important to keep track of your reps, sets and the weights you’re lifting. The gym app JEFIT was designed for bodybuilders, who tend to be rather stat-obsessed. The free app has a few designed routines you can follow and edit, or you can make your own from the list of more than 500 exercises. Each exercise has an animation and some procedure tips, and they’re searchable by what specific muscle you want to work and what equipment you have access to.

Nike+: The Nike+ Running app tracks distance, pace, time and calories burned with GPS, giving you audio feedback as you run. This tool makes fun use of social media by allowing you to hear real-time cheering while you run as friends on Facebook and Path “like” your activity or comment on your run. The App also gives you positive feedback from some of Nike’s top athletes. To add to the experience, you can get the Nike fuel band which tracks fuel burned while working out.

Pocket Yoga: Pocket Yoga features 27 different yoga sessions, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour across three categories: cardio, power and detox. The app includes images for each pose, down to the breathing patterns, and you can even hook it up to a big screen using an AV cable. $2.99, iPhone/iPad/Android.

Fitocracy: Fitocracy is a fitness social network that tracks your fitness progress with points, badges and graphs. It’s like Facebook, but for workouts. The platform allows users to record thousands of activities — from dancing at a party to taking the stairs — and connects with others who have similar fitness goals. You can join community groups that answer health questions, invite your friends and pick up followers, too. Free, iPhone/iPad/Android.